Externalizing virtual object tags relating to virtual objects

ABSTRACT

A system and method in a virtual universe system for tagging objects in one virtual world so that avatars in other virtual worlds can search for, review, purchase, and exchange real goods and virtual objects. In a virtual universe having more than one virtual world, an object in one virtual world may be tagged with a seller identification, an advertising location, an item type, and details of the item. The object may then be externalized to other virtual worlds within the virtual universe for searching.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of, and claims the benefit of,co-pending and co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/198,149,filed Aug. 26, 2008, having attorney docket number END920070247US1, theentire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. Thisapplication is also related in some aspects to the commonly owned andco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. TBD, filed Jun. 10, 2013,and which is assigned docket number END920070247US3.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention provide a system and method for taggingobjects for heterogeneous searching in a virtual universe. Using anembodiment of the present invention, an avatar in one virtual world maysearch for and find an item in another virtual world.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A virtual world is a computer-based simulated environment intended forits users to inhabit and interact via avatars. A computer avatar is apersonalized graphic file or rendering that represents a computer user.These avatars are usually depicted as textual, two-dimensional, orthree-dimensional graphical representations, although other forms arepossible (auditory and touch sensations for example). Some, but not all,virtual worlds allow for multiple users.

There may be multiple virtual worlds. One such virtual world is providedby Second Life. Second Life is an Internet-based virtual world launchedin 2003, developed by Linden Research, Inc. (commonly referred to asLinden Lab). Second Life is a trademark of Linden Research, Inc.

Many companies are utilizing virtual worlds for business functions suchas by having on-line stores available for shopping in a virtual space.These virtual stores might sell both real merchandise and virtual goods.An avatar may be used to search for and purchase the real merchandiseand virtual goods in the virtual world in which it exists. In order toconduct business or search for an item in another virtual world, anavatar must login to or teleport to a specific virtual world.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, aspects of the present invention provide systems and methodsfor enabling commerce between disparate virtual worlds and other webinterfaces through the use of common tags defining objects. An avatar inone virtual world can search for, review, purchase, and exchange realgoods and virtual objects in another virtual world. Additionally, a webuser or avatar would also have access to objects being sold by avatarsand stores within virtual worlds.

One embodiment of the present invention is a method of tagging a virtualobject contained in a virtual world, the method comprising: tagging thevirtual object with identifying information to generate a virtual objecttag; and externalizing, by a processor, the virtual object tag outsideof its virtual world so that the virtual object tag is locatable by bothof the following: a query generated by an avatar within a virtual worlddifferent than the virtual world containing the virtual object, and aquery generated via an external electronic environment by users externalto the virtual world.

Another embodiment is a system comprising a central repository forreceiving, storing and externalizing virtual object tags relating tovirtual objects for sale, the system comprising: an externalizer forexternalizing the virtual object tags outside of its virtual world sothat the virtual object tags are locatable by both of the following: aquery generated by an avatar within a virtual world different than thevirtual world containing the virtual object, and a query generated viaan external electronic environment by users external to the virtualworld.

Another embodiment is a computer-readable storage medium storingcomputer instructions, which when executed, enables a computer system toexternalize virtual object tags relating to virtual objects, thecomputer instructions comprising: externalizing a virtual object tagoutside of its virtual world so that the object tag is locatable by bothof the following: a query generated via an external electronicenvironment by users external to the virtual world.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this invention will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the variousaspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a data processing system suitable for implementing anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a network for implementing an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a virtual universe having multiple virtual worldsaccording to an embodiment of the network of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a virtual world according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative embodiment of the method of the presentinvention for tagging an item.

FIG. 7 is an illustrative embodiment of the application programinterface of the tagging method of the present invention.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merelyschematic representations, not intended to portray specific parametersof the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typicalembodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered aslimiting the scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention provide a solution for tagging objectsin a virtual world and externalizing the tag in a virtual universe sothat they can be found by an avatar for possible purchase. The systemand method of the present invention provides an interface so that anobject may be externalized and found outside of its virtual world. Thesystem and method of the present invention also provides for searchingfor the objects and will stop searching after a maximum number of tries.Still yet, any of the components of the present invention could bedeployed, managed, serviced, etc., by a service provider who offers toprovide a solution for tagging or externalizing the objects in thesystem.

A data processing system 100, such as system 102 shown in FIG. 1,suitable for storing and/or executing program code of the presentinvention will include a computer system 104 having at least oneprocessor (processing unit 106) coupled directly or indirectly to memoryelements through a system bus 112. The memory elements can include localmemory (RAM 130) employed during actual execution of the program code,bulk storage (storage 118), and cache memories (cache 132) that providetemporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce thenumber of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage 118 duringexecution. Input/output or I/O devices (external devices 116) (includingbut not limited to keyboards, displays (display 120), pointing devices,etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or throughintervening I/O controllers (I/O interface(s) 114).

Network adapters (network adapter 138) or network interface may also becoupled to the system 200 to enable the data processing system (as shownin FIG. 2, data processing unit 202) to become coupled through networkconnections (network connection 208) to other data processing systems(data processing unit 204), remote printers (printer 212) and/or storagedevices (storage 214) through intervening private and/or public networks(network 210). (A computer network is composed of multiple computersconnected together using a telecommunication system for the purpose ofsharing data, resources and communication. Modems, cable modem andEthernet cards are just a few of the currently available types ofnetwork adapters. (A network card, network adapter or NIC (networkinterface card) is a piece of computer hardware designed to allowcomputers to communicate over a computer network. It is both an OSIlayer 1 (physical layer) and layer 2 (data link layer) device, as itprovides physical access to a networking medium and provides a low-leveladdressing system through the use of MAC addresses. It allows users toconnect to each other either by using cables or wirelessly.)

With the growing popularity and adoption of virtual environments bothpersonal and business functions are becoming increasingly available.Some companies, such as International Business Machines Corporation®,have on-line stores available for shopping in a virtual space and thesevirtual stores might sell both real merchandise and virtual goods. Witha variety of virtual worlds presently available, and the potential formany more, as this venue becomes increasingly popular, it is importantthat interoperability between virtual worlds exists and also to otherexternal electronic environments such as the World Wide Web. Presently,an avatar must login to or teleport to a specific virtual worldenvironment in order to conduct business or search for an item in suchan environment. The present invention provides a system and method oftagging virtual world objects and externalizing the objects through theuse of common tags, thereby enabling free search capabilities andenterprise between avatars in differing virtual world environments andusers external to the virtual worlds.

Even given today's limitations and the promise of open standards, thetagging system and method of the present invention permits searches ofdocuments and other “byte collections” that have meaning outside ofvirtual worlds. Using the tagging method and system of the presentinvention, a user can perform a search and find real or virtual items orobjects in a repository in a virtual world.

The system and method of tagging of the present invention can likewisebe applied to real world goods and services. For instance, if a userdesires to sit inside a virtual automobile to see how it feels, prior tovisiting real world dealerships, the system and method permits the userto search virtual worlds to see where such a virtual car could beexperienced. Similarly, a user could use a legacy web browser and searchfor the virtual hotel and would receive results that would allow him orher to walk through the virtual hotel in any of several environments,and then book a stay accordingly.

The system and method of the present invention may be used for virtualproducts between virtual worlds and may increase as open standards areadopted. Its use with real-world products, documents, or services may beimmediate and of high value.

The present invention comprises a system and method of tagging virtualworld objects, externalizing the tags virtual world objects so that theycan be found and searching for the externalized virtual world objects.

Residents may be represented in the environment by an avatar. The basicavatar is humanoid in shape that may be customized in a variety of ways:

-   -   a series of GUI controls, modifying every aspect of the basic        mesh (body shape, skin, hair style etc.);    -   creating clothing or buying clothes made by other residents;    -   attachments—3D objects intended to supplement or replace body        structure, clothes or hair;    -   animation overriders (intended to supplement or replace the        stock set of animations) using, for instance, a scripting        language to trigger animations stored in an animation file        format; and/or    -   sonic overriders—using a scripting language to trigger sounds        such as footsteps, or emotive cues such as laughing and crying.

Any of these could be considered to be a virtual good, object or item.

The result can either be faithful to the original humanoid avatar, orcan result in a completely non-humanoid representation of the character.These customizations can be packaged up into a single outfit, withcommon applications of outfits.

The VU environment provides an opportunity for commercial vendors tomarket their wares and conduct other commerce with others who areresident in the VU via avatars.

An avatar system 300 for implementing the present invention is shown inFIG. 3 having a virtual world (VW 301) that may have a VW processingUnit 305, a VW memory 306 for storing information about the VW 301 andactivities and avatars within the VW 301, and one or more avatars 304(304 a, 304 b, 304 c, 304 d). There can be any number of avatars 304.The avatars 304 can communicate with one another, amongst themselves,and with VW stores 308, VW processing unit 305 or VW memory 306 or otherassets (such as avatar attachments, vehicles, buildings, furniture,sculpture or other items) in the VW 301 via communications channel 310.The avatars 304 are considered to be VU residents.

VW 301 further may have VW stores 308. Each VW store 308 a, 308 b, 308 cmay have objects 312 for sale to avatars 304. The objects 312 may bereal or virtual. A real object may be a car or a motorcycle for example.A virtual object may be anything from clothing for the avatar or adental chart. The system allows an avatar to purchase a real or avirtual good.

FIG. 4 illustrates a virtual universe 400 that may have one or morevirtual worlds 402, 404, 406. The virtual worlds 402, 404, 406communicate with one another via communications channels 422. Thevirtual universe 400 may have a virtual repository 410. The virtualworld repository 410 may have a search filter 414, and search counter412 and a search passer 418. This system may allow an avatar 304 in onevirtual world 404 to search for and purchase, if desired, an item 312 ina virtual store 308 in another virtual world 402.

The search filter 414 receives a search string for an object or item 312from an avatar 304 and searches virtual worlds 402, 406 other thanvirtual world 404 of the item. If search filter 414 cannot find theitem, it passes the search string to another virtual repository 416 forfurther searching. A search counter 412 counts the number of searches sothat the number of searches is limited. Once the maximum number ofsearches is reached, the search is completed. A search filter 424filters the search strings from the avatars.

FIG. 5 illustrates a system 500 having a virtual world VW 501 thatcommunicates with other virtual worlds. It may have a virtual world VWprocessing unit 305 and a virtual world VW memory unit 407 that providestorage and processing for virtual world VW 501. A virtual world VWstore 308 may house real items or objects 516 and virtual objects 518.The virtual objects 518 may be a passive virtual object 530 or an activevirtual object 532. A passive virtual object is a visual representationof a physical object such as a piece of art, where an active virtualobject is functional code that performs an action such as an MPEG-1Audio Layer 3 (MP3) music player, the code to make an Avatar perform aspecific gesture, the code to make a piece of virtual jewelry sparkle,and other such code. (MPEG-1 was an early standard for lossy compressionof video and audio.) An avatar 304 may communicate within the system 500using communication channel 310 to search for or purchase an object 516,518. An object tagging unit 502 allows an avatar to tag an item to beplaced for sale in a virtual store 308. The object tagging unit 502 mayhave a seller identification tagging unit 504 that may have a companyidentification tagging unit 512 and an individual identification taggingunit 514. The object tagging unit 502 may have an advertisingidentification tagging unit 506 and an item type tagging unit 508. Theobject tagging unit 502 may have an item details tagging unit 510 fortagging the item and an object details tagging unit 509 for tagging anobject with the details of the item or object. An externalizer (VWexternalizer 520) externalizes the item or object tags so that they maybe viewed by avatars that may reside in other virtual worlds. A searcher522 allows an avatar 304 to search outside of the virtual world 501.

FIG. 6 illustrates a process 600 for tagging an object or item. At 602,the process begins and at 604, the seller's identification and store iscaptured and coded in the tag. At 606, the advertising details (oradvertising type) is captured and coded in the tag and, at 608, the itemtype or classification is captured and coded in the tag. At 610, theitem details are captured and coded in the tag and the process ends at612.

FIG. 7 illustrates an object or item tagging format 700 that may beexternalized outside of a virtual world. It may have a tag number 702that identifies the item or object. It may have an identification numbersuch as SID 704 and a real/virtual indicator (RV 706). The location maybe specified by LOCATION field 708. The item or object may be identifiedin an ITEM field 710 and the item details may be itemized in DETAIL 712.The table more clearly shows the breakout. At 714, the selleridentification is shown. In the first row, 009=IBM is the seller and inthe second row 010=SL (Second Life) is the seller. (IBM is a registeredtrademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Second Life isa trademark of Linden Research, Inc.) The location of the item or objectis specified in column 716. The item is identified as being real orvirtual in column 720. The item is identified in column 722 such as alaptop or an MP3 player as examples. Further details relating to theitem or object are specified in column 724.

It should be understood that the present invention is typicallycomputer-implemented via hardware and/or software. As such, and clientsystems and/or servers will include computerized components as known inthe art. Such components typically include (among others), a processingunit, a memory, a bus, input/output (I/O) interfaces, external devices,etc.

While shown and described herein as a system and method for tagging anitem in a virtual universe through multimedia analysis, it is understoodthat the invention further provides various alternative embodiments. Forexample, in one embodiment, the invention provides acomputer-readable/useable medium that includes computer program code toprovide a solution for tagging an object so that it can be found in asearch. To this extent, the computer-readable/useable medium includesprogram code that implements each of the various process steps of theinvention. It is understood that the terms computer-readable medium orcomputer useable medium comprises one or more of any type of physicalembodiment of the program code. In particular, thecomputer-readable/useable medium can comprise program code embodied onone or more portable storage articles of manufacture (e.g., a compactdisc, a magnetic disk, a tape, etc.), on one or more data storageportions of a computing device, such as memory and/or storage system(e.g., a fixed disk, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a cachememory, etc.), and/or as a data signal (e.g., a propagated signal)traveling over a network (e.g., during a wired/wireless electronicdistribution of the program code).

In another embodiment, the invention provides a computer-implementedmethod for tagging an object in a virtual universe and externalizing thetag so that it can be found. In this case, a computerized infrastructurecan be provided and one or more systems for performing the process stepsof the invention can be obtained (e.g., created, purchased, used,modified, etc.) and deployed to the computerized infrastructure. To thisextent, the deployment of a system can comprise one or more of (1)installing program code on a computing device, such as computer systemfrom a computer-readable medium; (2) adding one or more computingdevices to the computer infrastructure; and (3) incorporating and/ormodifying one or more existing systems of the computer infrastructure toenable the computerized infrastructure to perform the process steps ofthe invention.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method thatperforms the process steps of the invention on a subscription,advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider, such as asolution integrator, could offer to provide a solution for tagging andexternalizing the tag for a real or virtual objects in a virtual world.In this case, the service provider can create, maintain, support, etc.,a computer infrastructure that performs the process steps of theinvention for one or more customers. In return, the service provider canreceive payment from the customer(s) under a subscription and/or feeagreement and/or the service provider can receive payment from the saleof advertising content to one or more third parties.

As used herein, it is understood that the terms “program code” and“computer program code” are synonymous and mean any expression, in anylanguage, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause acomputing device having an information processing capability to performa particular function either directly or after either or both of thefollowing: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; and/or(b) reproduction in a different material form. To this extent, programcode can be embodied as one or more of: an application/software program,component software/a library of functions, an operating system, a basicI/O system/driver for a particular computing and/or I/O device, and thelike.

The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations arepossible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to aperson skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scopeof the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

We claim:
 1. A method of tagging a virtual object contained in a virtualworld, the method comprising: tagging the virtual object withidentifying information to generate a virtual object tag; andexternalizing, by a processor, the virtual object tag outside of itsvirtual world so that the virtual object tag is locatable by both of thefollowing: a query generated by an avatar within a virtual worlddifferent than the virtual world containing the virtual object, and aquery generated via an external electronic environment by users externalto the virtual world.
 2. The method as defined in claim 1, furthercomprising: tagging the virtual object with the seller identification;tagging the virtual object with the advertising location; tagging thevirtual object with the item type; and tagging the virtual object withthe item details.
 3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein thevirtual world is associated with a plurality of virtual worlds, at leastone virtual world having an avatar and another having a virtual store,the method further comprising the avatar communicating with the virtualstore in the another virtual world.
 4. The method as defined in claim 1further comprising tagging the virtual object as being associated with areal item.
 5. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprisingtagging the virtual object as being associated with a virtual item. 6.The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising tagging the virtualobject as being associated with a company identification tag.
 7. Themethod as defined in claim 1 further comprising tagging the virtualobject as being associated with an individual identification tag.
 8. Themethod as defined in claim 1 further comprising tagging the virtualobject as being associated with at least one of a seller's rating, arank order for display of the items, and a cost of the item in thevirtual object tag.
 9. A system comprising a central repository forreceiving, storing and externalizing virtual object tags relating tovirtual objects for sale, the system comprising: an externalizerconfigured to externalize a virtual object tag outside of its virtualworld so that the virtual object tag is locatable by both of thefollowing: a query generated by an avatar within a virtual worlddifferent than the virtual world containing the virtual object, and aquery generated via an external electronic environment by users externalto the virtual world.
 10. The system as defined in claim 9 furthercomprising a searcher for receiving a search request from an avatar foran object and for searching a virtual universe for the object.
 11. Thesystem as defined in claim 10 wherein the virtual universe comprises afirst repository and a second repository, the system further comprisinga search passer for passing the search request to the second repositorywhen the searcher cannot satisfy the search request from the avatar forthe object.
 12. The system as defined in claim 11 wherein the firstrepository further comprises a search counter for counting the number ofsearches and for stopping the searches when a maximum number of searchesis reached.
 13. The system as defined in claim 12 wherein a searchstring further has a search filter, the system further comprising afiltering unit for filtering the search based upon a real/virtualrelational database field in the virtual object tag.
 14. Acomputer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, whichwhen executed, enables a computer system to externalize virtual objecttags relating to virtual objects, the computer instructions comprising:externalizing a virtual object tag outside of its virtual world so thatthe virtual object tag is locatable by both of the following: a querygenerated by an avatar within a virtual world different than the virtualworld containing the virtual object, and a query generated via anexternal electronic environment by users external to the virtual world.15. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14, thecomputer instructions further comprising: tagging the virtual objectwith the seller identification; tagging the virtual object with theadvertising location; tagging the virtual object with the item type; andtagging the virtual object with the item details.
 16. Thecomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 14 wherein thevirtual world is associated with a plurality of virtual worlds, at leastone virtual world having an avatar and another having a virtual store,the method further comprising the avatar communicating with the virtualstore in the another virtual world.
 17. The computer-readable storagemedium according to claim 14 further comprising computer instructionsfor tagging the virtual object as being associated with a real item. 18.The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14, furthercomprising computer instructions for tagging the virtual object as beingassociated with a virtual item.
 19. The computer-readable storage mediumaccording to claim 14, further comprising computer instructions fortagging the virtual object a company identification tag.
 20. Thecomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 14, furthercomprising computer instructions for tagging the virtual object with anindividual identification tag.